U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged immigration-critical protesters in the United Kingdom to continue their efforts to defend their national culture.
The comments signal a high-level U.S. endorsement of grassroots anti-immigration movements in Europe, potentially influencing the diplomatic discourse on border security and cultural preservation between the two allies.
Speaking during a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., Vance addressed those who participated in the Unite the Kingdom rally, which took place on Sept. 13, 2024 [1]. He told the protesters to "keep on going" [2].
Vance said it is ok to want to defend your culture [3]. His remarks focused on the rejection of policies that facilitate the entry of large numbers of migrants without thorough screening processes.
"The idea that the way to generate prosperity is to bring in millions and millions of unvetted people and drop them in your neighbourhoods… we simply reject that idea," Vance said [4].
The vice president's message served as an encouragement to those resisting policies that would bring large numbers of unvetted migrants into the UK [5]. The rally on Sept. 13, 2024 [1], was organized by far-right figure Tommy Robinson [6].
By framing the issue as a matter of cultural defense and economic prosperity, Vance aligned his rhetoric with the goals of the protesters. He said that the belief in mass immigration as a primary driver of prosperity is a concept the current administration rejects [4].
“"It's ok to want to defend your culture."”
This statement represents a significant departure from traditional diplomatic caution, as a sitting U.S. Vice President is explicitly validating the motives of foreign protesters. By framing mass immigration as a threat to cultural identity and economic stability, Vance is exporting a specific brand of American populism to the UK, potentially emboldening right-wing movements within the British political landscape.
